18th December 2025
It was around this time that I noticed a young man standing over the railings on a motorway bridge, accompanied by police who were there trying to talk him down.
A very different and in places, emotional day.
Several weeks ago I decided that I would make the 230 mile round trip to Bristol to pick up some baked items for my brother and sister in law as a surprise early Christmas present. Having lived in Bristol before moving up here, they often talked about their favourite bakery and how when friends come up from the city, they often asked them to bring bread and other items so that the could enjoy it once more. With no trips of that nature looking likely over the next few months, I took it upon myself to travel down and pick up what they like, myself.
I left early, hitting the motorway around 10. It was around this time that I noticed a young man standing over the railings on a motorway bridge, accompanied by police who were there trying to talk him down. Within minutes the motorway was closed in both directions, as I went on my way.
I have to say how emotional this made me feel. The sight of that you man so obviously in need, is not something you can easily move on from. It wasn’t until returning home (using an alternative route as the motorway was still closed some hours later) that I found out he had been talked down. That’s a good outcome, but perhaps only the start for him. I hope he gets the help he needs going forward and can get past what made him want to be up on that bridge in the first place.
Having already ordered the bread and other items from the bakers I was not there long (15 minutes at most). In that time I was able to have a quick coffee and then return home. And this is where the fun really started…
It had started to rain on my way down south, becoming rather heavy as I pulled up outside the bakery. By the time I left, it was lashing down. By the time I hit the motorway, the rain was almost biblical, with practically zero visibility. And that lasted for the next 90 minutes as I headed back up north. It was dreadful. In fact, such was the awfulness of the weather, I couldn’t help but laugh at my decision to make the trip in the first place and how unfortunate I was to find myself driving in such conditions. And then I remembered the boy on the bridge…
I’m pleased I made the trip and how that simple act had made my brother and sister in law happy. Perhaps in a nutshell that’s what Christmas is all about.
See you tomorrow.
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
I am glad that the man was talked down. It’s definitely hard to see without knowing the outcome, until later.
I was in Bristol last year visiting a long time friend who I had not seen in several years (she’s there, I’m from California).
We went to Pullin’s Bakery to have some breakfast items and they were all delicious. We ate probably more than we should have as we were able to skip straight to dinner later that evening.
Cheers to you, Liz and your whole family for this holiday season.
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